Governmental cultural diplomacy can sometimes come off as forced or out-of-touch, but K-pop is an authentic reflection and spectacle of youth culture that is impressively close to the pulse of the "global cool."

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's state visit to the United States today comes on the heels of congressional approval for a long-pending Free Trade Agreement between the countries. The pact is another achievement in a strong alliance that experts say has "never been better."

The recent progress in North-South Korean relations - a released South Korean detainee, an agreement to reenergize several key projects - suggests that the policies of the 'sunshine generation' are still bearing fruit.